Chapter 277 Unexpected Major Events

The Shandong general's troops conducted a thorough investigation in Laiwu City. Many murderers and bandits in the world have not yet joined the men of the mining supervisor Ding Xu, but they just used such a place to hide their whereabouts. Even the people around them did not discover them until they were caught out by soldiers from Jiaozhou Camp.

The handling of the soldiers of Jiaozhou camp in Laiwu City is very simple. Anyone who is in the arrest plan is "extremely guilty" and "executed on the spot". If they are not on the list, they will ignore them.

Laiwu City has been run by Ding Xu, the mining supervisor, for many years, and it looks like an independent kingdom. The residents of Laiwu and the iron smelting station only knew that there was Eunuch Ding. Those dead bandits who came to join regarded Ding Xu as a shelter. However, today, the soldiers of Jiaozhou camp arrested and killed people as if no one was around the city. Ding Xu was angry there, but he did not see any method to stop him.

The search and killing lasted for a day. By night, the Jiaozhou Camp did nothing else and directly withdrew from the city, and they were carried out according to regular procedures. However, the prestige of the mining supervisor Ding Xu had already fallen to the bottom. However, the order issued by the Shandong Governor, the prefect of Jinan and the Shandong General was not able to check and balance or oppose the order. To put it bluntly, he was just a mining supervisor and had no local administrative and judicial functions. The Jiaozhou Camp had a large number of people. The soldiers in Laiwu were not prepared, but even if they were prepared, they would not take advantage of the law, and they would not be able to fight at all.

Ding Xu, the mining supervisor, knew very well what the sudden cleaning of Jiaozhou Camp was for. It happened to be that those people from Lingshan Trading Company came over after saying harsh words. This was not to put pressure on themselves, or why.

As expected, the representatives of Lingshan Trading Company were not willing to do the superficial effort that had been delayed for several days. The next day, they came to the door and said that they wanted to discuss the matter of the iron smelting station again with Eunuch Ding.

When these representatives of Lingshan Trading Company entered the city, they could still see blood that had not been washed and covered, and the smell of burning corpses filled the city. However, unlike when they came last time, the pedestrians on the street were cautious and hurried. This time, there were a lot more pedestrians on the street than they did on that day, and there was a look of sunshine and excited on their faces. It was obvious that after the evildoers were killed, the people of Laiwu were happy and dared to walk calmly on the street.

According to Lingshan Trading Company's estimate, cutting off the fuel source of the iron ore and then let Jiaozhou Camp enter the city to kill the wanted bandits, which is to achieve the purpose of cleaning these mountain warriors, and to be able to scare the mine supervisor Ding Xu. It can be said that it is a killing two birds with one stone. A small mine supervisor, in this two-pronged approach, will not believe that it will last for a long time. This time, it must be a success.

The group came to the door of the Iron Smelting Institute. The guards standing were no longer the vicious and vicious men of yesterday, but several officers and soldiers from Laiwu City, and several shopkeepers of the business shop stood at the door and asked someone to come in to report. They thought that Ding Xu, the mine supervisor, had either avoided him or had a respectful attitude, but unexpectedly, a minor official from the Iron Smelting Institute came out and invited the person in plain sight.

This kind of behavior really surprised the people of Lingshan Trading Company. The other party was calm and composed, as if nothing had happened, and I don’t know if it was pretending to be a pretentious person.

After entering this time, the accountants and shopkeepers of Lingshan Trading Company had already expressed their confidence in the last condition, thinking that the other party would agree. Who would have thought that the mining supervisor Ding Xu looked as usual, and he didn't see him angry or anything, but he stood firmly on his own position. The iron price would rise, but the high-priced coal would not be a pound, so he would rather stop production.

Several shopkeepers of Lingshan Trading Company immediately looked at each other, and there was nothing he could do. The mine prison was actually not good at it. In broad daylight, the other party was an eunuch sent by the court. He was directly at the center and could not send people in to kill him with force. This would be a blatant rebellion.

In the world, there are military generals who kill civil officials without mercy, and civil officials who hold talismans and kill military officials. But I have never heard of anyone who dares to kill eunuchs. I have never heard of them in the officialdom. Even the times that were praised by the people, officials reported all kinds of crimes to the emperor and dared to take action after obtaining permission. It is better to say that it is the emperor's opinion than the officials' actions.

Several eunuchs in various places died abnormally in office. They all caused civil unrest during their tenure, and the people attacked each other and had such an end.

No matter how domineering the civil servants and generals from all over the country, they dare not kill these eunuchs without permission, because these eunuchs who are guarding, the central officials, the admirals, the admirals, the admirals and tax supervisors are all internal tasks. Strictly speaking, they are envoys sent directly by the emperor, and there is not much difference from the imperial envoys.

Killing the mine prison is actually equivalent to rebellion, and there is no room for maneuver. Jiaozhou Camp has thought of implementing thunderous methods against Ding Xu, who is ungrateful. However, Jiaozhou Camp is still the military force of the court, and doing so means that it will immediately become a public enemy of the whole world. It is not worth the effort to make an iron ore committee.

The mining supervisor Ding Xu was in the hall in an official tone. The shopkeepers of Lingshan Trading Company didn't know what to do. The threatening methods were almost used, and the other party was still like this. He really didn't know what to say next. He couldn't say that if you don't agree, you should be careful of the head on your neck. I'm afraid that once this sentence was said, the mining supervisor Ding Xu would immediately report to the court that the Shandong general was incompetent and had the intention of rebellion.

The helpless merchants of Lingshan Trading Company had to say a few words without embarrassment, and then stood up to say goodbye. Ding Xu, the mining supervisor, didn't say anything harsh. He just treated him in a plain tone, which made the Lingshan Trading Company even more unpredictable. After going out, he looked a little disgraceful and looked at each other, thinking that this time the errand was indeed a mess.

Hou Shan was in charge of building the warehouse and shop of Lingshan Trading Company in Jinan Prefecture and recruiting personnel. When he heard the reports of these subordinates in Laiwu, he felt a little angry and ashamed. However, after hearing the situation, he really felt helpless and had to write a letter to Li Meng to explain the situation.

Although the expansion of the Jiaozhou camp was chosen among the villages of the farmhouses and reduced a lot of trouble, it was a big move of more than 20,000 people, and many things were coming. In addition to the distribution of troops, the promotion and rewards and punishments of new and old officers, and the re-division of defense scope in various places, Li Meng was also busy and anxious. After receiving Hou Shan's letter, he did not regard it as a major event.

At present, Fengmeng Town's weapons manufacturing bureau also has its own reserves, and purchasing weapons in Nanjing's arsenal can also make up for a lot of gaps. The reason why the iron ore in Laiwu is needed is for the long-term plan in the future. This is completely a business deal and I am in a hurry. So I just wrote back and asked Hou Shan to continue to contact the Laiwu Mine Supervision Office and not to cut off. I will just do it slowly.

However, this letter also made Li Meng feel a little funny. He always felt that Lingshan Commercial Bank's method of threatening the other party to raise coal prices is quite similar to some news he has seen in modern times. There are such similarities between ancient and modern times, which is indeed interesting.

Li Meng is now the general of a province. Although the mining supervision in Laiwu is a poor person, he is in charge of the territory of a county. What both sides are entangled is just iron-priced transactions. It is no longer a big deal for Li Meng, and he doesn't think he needs to take it seriously.

Although the shopkeepers and accounting offices of Lingshan Trading Company also have some business experience, these people are smooth sailing under the reputation of Jiaozhouying and Li Meng. These people are not so much businessmen, but rather are some soldiers who work part-time and have some businessmen. These people at Lingshan Trading Company are meticulous in executing orders, and no matter how many difficulties they encounter, they must do what Li Meng told him. This is good.

However, it is not possible to go straight like an army in the shopping mall. These roles of Lingshan Commercial Bank always lack a hint of tactfulness, which is also a shortcoming.

For example, in this negotiation, if it is Wenru Commercial Bank or Bamin Commercial Bank, it will always persuade the mining supervisor Ding Xu, and the two sides will negotiate the matter to achieve a satisfactory situation. Besides, these eunuchs have different positions and different jurisdictions, but they come from the inner court, and their backgrounds are often unknown. Moreover, the internal officials are all eunuchs, physically disabled, and they are inevitably narrow-minded and prone to extreme things. Therefore, formal business banks always leave some room for doing things, and will not make the relationship break, so they will not break up and make things out of control.

But Lingshan Trading Company did not notice this. After a few simple discussions, it began to coerce and suppress. The mining supervisor Ding Xu was obviously not a role who knew how to give in. After a while, the two sides had a situation in the current situation.

In addition to the official iron smelting stations in Laiwu, there are also some scattered small mines. Lingshan Trading Company can buy these small mines, but the output of these small mines is too small, which means it will be a little supplement.

In late July, the Laiwu Iron Mine was indeed stopped because the coal mine was not transported. At the same time, the coal mine in Yanzhou also stopped production due to the iron mine. No one needed it, so it also stopped production.

Ding Xu, the mining supervisor, watched the storm stop, and there was not much movement. Lingshan Trading Company did not give up and arranged personnel to contact him regularly. However, Ding Xu had already made up his mind and would never treat him badly, but he insisted on not relaxing, and there was no concession at all on the conditions that day.

The situation was deadlocked. After the fourth day after the soldiers of Jiaozhou Camp left, Ding Xu sent someone to send a letter to the capital. 40% of all the income of the Laiwu Iron and Metallurgical Institute was sent to the capital, and this 40% were not given to the eunuchs of the inner court, but only to one person, that is, Wang Chengen, the eunuch of the Sili Supervisor.

Every emperor of the Ming Dynasty had an eunuch who had been with him since childhood. He could be said to be a personal servant and the emperor's most confidant. When the emperor was a relative, he was a master and servant, but he had some partnerships among them. After the relative ascended the throne, this personal eunuch was usually the chief eunuch in charge of the seal and the first place, which was equivalent to the chief minister of the cabinet of the outer court. He also had the title of the admiral of the East Factory, and he was even more powerful.

Wang Chengen also had such a role. When Chongzhen was still trusting King, Wang Chengen accompanied him and was loyal. After Chongzhen ascended the throne, Wang Chengen became one of the most powerful figures in the world.

The eunuch was physically disabled and had no ability to pass on the family line. His desires were almost concentrated in power and wealth. Wang Chengen was no longer able to rise and was in a high position. All that was left was the idea of ​​making money. The eunuchs who were guarding various places naturally knew Wang Chengen's hobbies, and the gold, silver and wealth that he had plundered from various places were always presented.

However, eunuchs from all over the country always leave the biggest share of the money they have been plundered. They don’t give it to the capital only to Wang Chengen. In the past, eunuchs like Gao Qiqian and Cao Huachun also had to have a share of their income, and it was not very conspicuous when they were in their hands.

But this is different from the mining supervisor Ding Xu in Laiwu. He and Wang Chengen have a relationship with each other. Otherwise, they would not have been sent to Laiwu to work as a mining supervisor in the early years of Chongzhen. Ding Xu was Wang Chengen's confidant, and Ding Xu also had a bit of a perverted temper. He plundered the money he obtained from the business and distributed 40% of the money he obtained from the business to Wang Chengen.

Laiwu Iron Mine makes Ding Xu's business very prosperous. This 40% of the money is really a huge sum of money. With such a huge sum of money and a relationship between the two parties, Wang Chengen really regards Ding Xu as his confidant and has always taken good care of him.

At present, in the center, except for the two places in the Silijian and the Imperial Horse Prison, one in the world, one in the literature and one in the martial arts, the rest are relatively hard-working positions, so it has become a one-of-a-kind job to be released. However, these jobs are nominally sent by the emperor, but in fact they are recommended by the eunuchs from the Silijian and the Imperial Horse Prison, and they are also managed. If eunuchs want to be released, they need to spend money to buy them, and they must also be filial to money when they are in office.

In order to allow positions outside to be replaced and positions available for sale, these eunuchs often change the various eunuchs outside and the guards every few years, but Ding Xu, the Laiwu Mining Supervisor, has been working for nearly ten years, which shows that he has a deep foundation in the center.

The letter was sent by a fast horse. Wang Chengen, the eunuch of the Sili Supervisor, saw the letter on July 25. The chaos in Huguang and Henan had already spread to the court. The plan to recruit thieves has now completely collapsed. Yang Sichang, who was in charge of this policy, naturally bears the main responsibility.

Other ministers in the court didn't like Yang Sichang, and they were helpless because of Emperor Chongzhen's favor. Now that they had this opportunity, they attacked one after another. The court was full of noise every day. On the one hand, the Silijian and the cabinet had to mobilize troops to encircle and suppress Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai's troops, and on the other hand, they had to deal with the attacks of various officials and the refutation of memorials and documents.

As the eunuch of the Sili Superintendent, Wang Chengen of the Inner Principal naturally did not have any leisure time. However, when he was busy, he saw Ding Xu's letter from the mining supervisor, and was already irritable and angry when he was excited by this incident.

Wang Chengen, the highest-level officials in the world, were extremely familiar with such official strife. The letter from the mining supervisor Ding Xu pointed out that Shandong General Li Meng wanted to seize the Laiwu iron ore, and threatened to cut off the supply of coal mines and send troops into the city.

Taking the iron ore in Laiwu is equivalent to taking away a wealthy path from Wang Chengen. How could the eunuch of the Silijian be willing? But Wang Chengen also understood that Li Meng is a successful military general at the moment, and the so-called attempt to seize the iron ore in Laiwu is strictly speaking, he cannot catch his handle.

During the Chongzhen period, there was no way to deal with such generals who led troops, so they could only be tolerant and tolerant. Some time ago, Yang Sichang was guilty of his merits and wanted to kill General Zu Kuan. As a result, General Guanning was clamoring and stirring, and the court could only send people to comfort him, which seemed extremely embarrassed. It was so difficult for such a guilty general to deal with such a guilty general, let alone a meritorious minister like Li Meng. Wang Chengen thought that even if he took the initiative to plead with the emperor, he might be in a mess.

But he couldn't swallow this tone like this. Wang Chengen still remembers that Li Meng was promoted and promoted in recent years, and there were internal officials who said it. And he also knew that it was Liu Fulai, the eunuch who was leaning behind him.

At that time, Liu Fulai was promoted by Wang Chengen to be called the Sili Supervisor because of Qingyan's errand work. Later, he took the initiative to come down from the position of Bingbi eunuch and went to Nanjing City to serve as the second-class garrison eunuch. There was no conflict with Wang Chengen.

However, because of Li Meng's relationship, Wang Chengen ignored the previous relationship. Moreover, Liu Fulai had no faction or background among the eunuchs in the inner court. He was promoted in poverty and his time in the Silijian was cut off. There was no need to worry too much about such an intern official with a low foundation.

In Wang Chengen's view, Li Meng's current momentum is entirely due to Liu Fulai's support. If he leaves this backer, then Li Meng, who also originated from the cold, would have no support and would gradually decline. He naturally would not dare to compete for the iron ore.

Li Meng did not expect that his subordinates would buy iron ore more intensely, but they were subjected to such revenge. However, at this time he was busy with other things and had no idea that such changes would occur.

The night after receiving the letter, although the government and the government criticized the cabinet scholars and the Minister of War Yang Sichang fiercely, Emperor Chongzhen still had the habit of summoning Yang Sichang every day. Although Wang Chengen was in the high position of the head of the ritual supervisor, he was still with Emperor Chongzhen every day.

At this time, he was also standing behind Emperor Chongzhen according to the usual rules. Seeing Yang Sichang talking there, the situation in Huguang and Henan had collapsed, especially the defeat of Zuo Liangyu and Luo Dai. After Luo Dai was captured and died in battle, the policies proposed by Yang Sichang that day had been proved to be a failure.

However, Emperor Chongzhen still had an abnormal credit for him, but Yang Sichang, a bachelor of the cabinet and minister of the Ministry of War, could not stay in the court anymore. In the current situation, there can only be a choice.

"Your Majesty, I would like to go to Xiangyang to supervise the army and eliminate the rebels and riots. I will definitely do my best to do my best and repay the holy grace. I would like to ask Your Majesty to agree!"

After saying this, Yang Sichang had already left his seat and knelt on the ground to show his determination. Yang Sichang's passionate words, in conjunction with his actions, looked extremely loyal and fierce. Chongzhen was still a young man in his twenties and had been in the court for a long time. Although he had the desire to cheer up, he had no practical measures or means, and he often believed the ministers below.

Yang Sichang's behavior really touched Emperor Chongzhen very much. He sat in his seat for a long time without saying anything. He said after a while:

"If all the ministers in the court can be like their beloved, how could this be the world? I already know your patriotism, so let me think about it."

Yang Sichang kowtowed a few times in front of the desk, and then retreated. Wang Chengen sneered in his heart. The Tartars entered northern Zhili and Shandong to loot, Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai made a rebellion, and the policies of internal and external harmony proposed by Yang Sichang that day were all destroyed. The high-ranking officials and ministers in the court who had been favored and avoided Yang Sichang. In the past, those censors criticized memorials, but now many powerful factions have also stood up.

In such an environment, according to the temper of Emperor Chongzhen, it is inevitable that there will be any mistakes in the center for a long time. It is better to go to the local area to supervise the army earlier. On the one hand, it is to avoid the struggle in the court, and on the other hand, with the past experience, large soldiers encircle and encircle them on ten sides. The thieves could not support it. If they have made contributions, it would be easier to speak in the court.

Moreover, if you make this loyal and courageous look, it is easy to get a good impression in front of Emperor Chongzhen. In the eyes of such excited young people, Yang Sichang's behavior is undoubtedly a great hero, and his trustworthiness is even more serious.

However, Yang Sichang's style is okay to fool Emperor Chongzhen. A cunning person like Wang Chengen saw this thoroughly and sneered in his heart. However, Yang Sichangping paid great attention to the eunuchs in the inner court and got along very well. Even if he said this kind of thing, it would not be of any benefit to him, so he simply kept silent.

Seeing Yang Sichang retreat, Emperor Chongzhen rubbed his brows and sighed. He was also extremely tired. The rebellion in the world was urgently reported. The disasters in various places were coming in a row during this period, which made Emperor Chongzhen feel worried. He always felt that he had spent countless efforts on this political affairs, but the country could not see any improvement... After chatting with Yang Sichang, Chongzhen felt extremely tired and prepared to go back to his bedroom to rest.

Chongzhen stood up, and Wang Chengen immediately arranged for the emperor to go to bed. The people below went out to work hard. Wang Chengen bowed to the emperor and said:

"Long live, Huguang and Henan are in military affairs again. These two places are connected to the important areas of Nanzhili. The ancestors should not be ignored. I thought that there should be a person who knows about military affairs in the position of the eunuch in Nanjing. Although Liu Fulai, the governor, is still diligent in his work, after all, he is from a pen and does not know martial arts. He is old and has a lot of energy."

Having said that, Emperor Chongzhen already understood what he wanted to say. He trusted the eunuch who had followed him since he was in seclusion and spoke:

"Who do you think is suitable for this position?"

"I said rudely that I was in charge of the Beijing camp. Now, Lu Jiude, who is in the Huguang military inspector, is well-versed in military affairs. He is loyal and brave, and is very suitable for guarding important places in Nanjing."

When the eunuch Lu Jiude was in the capital, the eunuchs in such a critical position were naturally the emperor's confidants. Chongzhen was naturally familiar with it. Hearing Wang Chengen say this, he nodded and said:

"Since that's the case, you will plan a decree tomorrow and send a cavalry to Lu Jiude, so that he can guard the important areas of Nanzhili and train troops. Don't be exploited by the thieves."

Wang Chengen quickly took out a note from his sleeve, picked up the pen and recorded it quickly. Although it delayed Emperor Chongzhen's time, he seemed to be loyal to his duties.

As expected, Emperor Chongzhen did not look unhappy. Instead, he looked at Wang Chengen, who was so well-written, and showed a look of praise. Wang Chengen finished writing the memorials and carefully put them in his arms. He went to the front to lead the way. A little eunuch had prepared a sedan chair outside. The two of them walked a few steps, but Wang Chengen said again:

"Long live, don't blame me. I have to say more. Liu Fulai is already old. If I come back to Beijing, it will be detrimental to my health. I dare to ask you for personal favors. I will let Liu Fulai choose a suitable place to live and live in a leisurely life. I think..."

Chongzhen laughed a few times, and the sick flush on his face deepened a lot. He pointed at Wang Chengen who was bowing to ask for instructions and said:

"You old dog is a loyal and kind person. You think so carefully for others. Well, I'm sure, and it's not in vain for your kindness."

Wang Chengen quickly shouted to thank him again, and sent Emperor Chongzhen into the sedan chair. It was already late at night. You could hear the eunuchs on the night shouting and passing by not far away. Chongzhen was also extremely tired. He yawned on the sedan chair and said slowly:

"If everyone in the world is as loyal as Chengen, and as loyal as Yang Sichang, how could I be so tired of governing the world?"

Wang Chengen had no contact with this seemingly talking to himself, but just bowed and said:

"The emperor is tired, so he should go back and rest soon."

After saying that, he waved at the little eunuchs carrying sedan chairs, and the eunuchs immediately carried sedan chairs and walked towards the bedroom.

The eunuchs who were guarding the supervision outside had to go to the capital or Nanjing after their term of office. They were slaves from the emperor and had no personal freedom. Some old and out of favor were sent to Fengyang, Zhongdu. This was quite unlucky. After the eunuchs like Liu Fulai ended their term of office, they usually had to return to the inner court, re-appoint, or retire in the capital.

Wang Chengen, the eunuch of Silijian, could think clearly that no matter how bad Liu Fulai had no foundation, he was also a person who had served as a eunuch in Silijian, and had familiar people with Silijian, Imperial Horse Supervision, and the East Factory. If someone spends money at that time, someone will say a few words in front of Chongzhen, it will inevitably be a resurgence. His seemingly kind arrangement actually completely kicked Liu Fulai out of the political stage of the Ming Dynasty.

Eunuchs are not as good as scholars. After officials retire, they are famous gentry in the local area. If the local officials cannot act, they should take the initiative to make friends with each other. They also have to support the backwards and communicate with other retired officials. They are also very powerful and live no worse than in office.

But these eunuchs often entered the palace since childhood. Apart from the inner court, there was no one outside that could be relied on to get along with. Moreover, the people in the world had no good impression of eunuchs. If eunuchs lost their power and had no power, the people who were originally smiling and flattered immediately turned to face each other coldly. Many eunuchs who were in power returned to the capital could not withstand this gap and died in depression. This was still in the inner court.

If it is in the local area, a loser is even more miserable. Even if he has accumulated a fortune from his family, his sad and miserable mentality and lonely situation are still a steel knife that kills people without blood.

The struggles in the inner court never ended during the Xuande period, but during the reign of Emperor Zhengde, the eight tigers fought each other and attacked and killed each other. The power of the inner court was extremely exhausted. During the Jiajing period, it was almost completely suppressed by the six cabinet ministries.

Therefore, eunuchs also have some unwritten rules, such as no matter how fierce the political struggle is, there are few deaths in the end. Of course, this is the tacit understanding of eunuchs in the inner court. Such disguised exile methods are already considered vicious means. Eunuchs are originally dependent on the existence of imperial power in the inner palace and wandering among the people is actually equivalent to death.

But only the eunuchs were familiar with these things, so how could Emperor Chongzhen know about them? He thought that Wang Chengen was kind-hearted and thought about his colleagues.
To be continued...